4 Common DSLR Problems and Tips to Fix

4 Common DSLR Problems and Tips to Fix

There are four major external factors that may cause your DSLR to malfunction. In extreme cases it may stop working and you will have to take it to service center for repair. The major issues are Sand, Hair Particle, Dust, Moisture, Extreme Heat and Extreme Cold.

Let us look at all the common issues one by one and learn how to avoid or solve them.

We will learn the signs that’ll show that your DSLR has already been affected by any of the 4 things. How to fix the issue? Most importantly, keeping away from ever letting your DSLR get into these four issues.

Prevent Sand or Hair –
When your DSLR comes into contact with sand, it may be on the sensor of the camera or worse, the moving parts of the DSLR may get stuck. There may or may-not be an error message on your DSLR’s screen. If the hair particle is on the sensor then you may get a soft/dark spot in all your images. Sensors are electronically charged so they attract dust particles and hair strands like a magnet.How To Resolve This problem:
Never expose the inner parts of camera while in dusty environment. When you change the lens always keep the DSLR facing downwards. You should try using the rocket blower to blow off the dust or any physical particle present on the sensor or inside the camera. remember not to poke it to any of the inner parts of camera. If the particle is stuck on the sensor then there are three options.
Using Sensor Swab for the sensor

a) Try the in camera auto sensor clean option. However this may not be an option in all the camera models.
b) Use Sensor Swab. This is not recommended if you have not done it before.
c) Take it to a professional. Your only option here’s to send your DSLR on a dealer/pro who will do the cleaning for you. They rescue your DSLR. They may also re-lube all the moving parts of your camera.It is a good idea to make use of a zip lock plastic when not using the camera in dusty environment. Another tip is not at all get low while shooting for a sandy area. Doing this can be inviting sands to hop in your lenses.
You should always keep your camera locked properly inside the camera bag when not in use.

Protect your DSLR from moisture, rain and water –
Water Is unappealing For Your DSLR. There is no water proof DSLR. The professional DSLR cameras have some protection and resistant towards moisture and light rain showers but that does not mean you can shoot with them in rain without proper housing. It’s always a risk. Once you suspect moisture has got inside, notice if your camera shows any signs of damage. It may be switching off automatically, battery draining quickly, or show error message.How To deal to This Problem?
Once your DSLR has got into contact with water, immediately remove the battery. Do not turn it back on otherwise power surge can damage your camera permanently. Once dry from outside you should keep it in a dry cabinet or a closed box with a dehumidifier. Make sure you take out your memory cards. Memory cards have exceptional surviving capability. There have been instances in the past where the memory card was found submerged in water but still worked when the files where checked. Tips To Avoid Receiving the DSLR Into Trouble with Water:
Avoid water, moisture or splashy condition. Never switch your lenses during snowy, rainy or cold weather conditions. If you have to switch lenses, then do it inside the bag itself away from direct contact with moisture. Look for signs of moisture getting inside your lens. Sometime fungus grows inside the lens and you may have to take it to professional. Avoid your DSLR from coming in contact with water at all cost.

Protect DSLR from Heat –
Extreme weather conditions can cause trouble to normal functioning of camera. High heat environment may cause your camera to heat up excessively. Especially while shooting for long duration or making a long exposure photograph.

DSLRs are made to withstand a wide range of temperature but that does not mean you can torcher them to extreme temperature for extended period of time.
Working under direct sunlight or keeping it in hot enclosed area like you car’s boot where there is heat trap. An example of hot enclosed air would be the hot air trapped to your car’s boot under the hot sun.
The polymer surface, glass coatings and plastic casings within your camera kit may turn out to be damaged by heat, so be watchful for them. When the heat is strong, the oils in your DSLR that act to lubricate the inner workings can indeed be dry or otherwise get separated.

How To Resolve This problem?
When you touch your DSLR and realize that it overheated, leave it somewhere shady and let it cool down. Do not put it inside a fridge. It will cause rapid condensation and hence moisture will get inside. It is also advisable to remove the battery as it may leak due to over heating. An over heated battery is a fire hazard. Keep away from fire. Use telephoto lens while taking photographs of subjects that include fire.

Protect DSLR from Dust –
It is very easy to find if dust has got on your sensor or the lens. Check for photographs. If there is a soft spot or some dark spot then it may be dust on either lens element or the sensor itself. It is highly recommended to take image of a plain white surface to easily spot soft and dark spots due to dust. The sensor of the camera carries electric charge. The dust particle may get stuck on it. If you see some dust or hair through viewfinder but cant fin it on the photograph then the dust may be on the viewfinder. You must always carry a lens cleaning kit and a sensor swab with your DSLR camera. It acts as first aid before it gets worse and creates bigger issue.How To Resolve dust issue on DSLR?
Some of the latest DSLRs have great features that will periodically shake dust off your DSLR’s sensor. This cleaning is actually set by default but you can also find manually ‘clean sensor’ option in the menu of newer DSLR cameras. It is very useful and you should make it a habit to do manual sensor cleaning every few weeks or after an outdoor shoot.Tips to avoid getting Dust inside your DSLR:
Properly place your camera in an appropriate place when you are not using it. Keep the insides to your camera away from dust. This can be done providing you avoid leaving your camera without a lens.
Avoid switching lenses in dusty areas. If you’ve to switch lenses though dusty condition, then you must hold your camera so the lens mount faces downwards. This way, dust by no means fall and later get trapped onto your DSLR’s sensor.

Let us know in comments below if you have any issue and we will try to help you out with our resources.